Mom says it's my turn with the Alastor

[sugaronthecream]

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[youknowwhothisis]

"Weeeeell... there's also the whole 'they didn't like my ideas', 'Lucifer wasn't sure why we even NEED the Creator when we can do SO MUCH MORE if we didn't have to follow so many rules', 'why should we bow to humans when we can instead let them do whatever they want just like we do' among other things, aaaaand... down I went. It's a laundry list."

SHRUG. A laugh. Because if he's not laughing, he was having a breakdown. Millennia ago, but it could have been yesterday.

"Anyway, that is why I would be the ab-so-lute LAST to check in at this Hotel! Never want to go back! Hell, they wouldn't even let me set foot in the place without whatever- what- armies they'd have up there sticking spears up the ass. But hey, plenty of humans can probably relate, huh?" Elbow elbow.

[sugaronthecream]

Alastor chuckled at the elbowing, shrugging and letting out a 'hmm!'

"Guilty as charged. I have no interest in Heaven anyhow. It's the suffering that makes life thrilling! And I have little interest in ceasing my conspicuous consumption."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Y'know, can't say I relate on the whole 'nibbling other people' deal, but hey! It's like recycling, right!?" He had himself a laugh.

But Lucifer looked down the hall, reached up and adjusted his hat.

"You... really did do a lot to help Charlie, huh?"

[sugaronthecream]

Oh?

"Of course," Alastor responded, carefully keeping the tone of curiosity in his voice to a minimum. He didn't seem as defensive about it - good, that made him more secure about things, less embarrassing - but Alastor's amused at how incredulous the king seems to be about him.

"I told her I wanted to help, and so I have."

[youknowwhothisis]

As amicable as Charlie was, she did seem to have a way about figures that would seek to take advantage without trying. ...Unless, of course, things happened and he didn't know about them.

But for his own sanity, he chose not to spiral into those possibilities. He was here, he was here for her and her dream.

The King took in a breath and decided that, perhaps, the greatest pride at all was knowing where appreciation was due.

"...Thank you." Spoken softly, not looking at him.

"...Even if you dropped a piano on my head." A finger was raised.

[sugaronthecream]

Alastor let out a cheerful guffaw remembering that. "Classic slapstick, chum, who could resist! I had to play a little diddy on the piano anyways, shift the tune back to jazzy," he laughed aloud, shameless.

[youknowwhothisis]

"I'm not one to turn down a little slapstick, buddy, but I distinctly recall the tune was swing already!"

He whirled on a heel to face him.

"WHICH, I might add, can include string instruments. Just admit it: You've always wanted to just whallop someone with a piano and I was ripe for it."

[sugaronthecream]

"The timing was rather impeccable," Alastor 'admitted', looking away in a coy imitation of avoidance.

"You had your fun with serving my head on a platter and frying me in a pan first, mind. Are you sure you aren't a little curious to try a bite, hmm?"

[youknowwhothisis]

That... stirred something in the belly. Something he hadn't had in a very long time.

"...Hmm." A brief once-over, before lilac lids closed. Perhaps he was having a thought or two. He'd had his days, his weeks, his months, years nibbling away at tenderest places.

"Temptation has its ways, doesn't it...?"

[sugaronthecream]

"I have a very dear friend you could meet if you have your manners in order for the day trip," Alastor hummed in an almost sing-song tone, completely missing the non cannibalistic tone that Lucifer was putting on.

"Why, it's our dear friend Rosie you have to thank for encouraging Charlie to rally the help of Cannibal Town. If you're curious, and since you have no intention of going to heaven, why not come join us for lunch sometime?"

[youknowwhothisis]

...Ohhh dear. What did he get himself invited to?

But he couldn't be a coward. No, no. Maybe it'd be good to see Cannibal Town after everything they've done for Hell. It was the least he could do for relations' sake.

Maybe if he ignored things on his plate really, really hard-

"Rosie is a Hell of a gal! I wouldn't mind having a chat with her. Sure! Let's do lunch."

He'll ignore the very tiny screaming in his head. You can do this.

[sugaronthecream]

"Perfect! I'll send the dear lady a telegram and arrange it then," Alastor said cheerfully.

Yes, it was fun making Lucifer squirm. But more importantly, his pal Rosie and Cannibal Town as a whole deserved recognition for doing such a bang-up job and sacrificing so many of their own.

"When we acquire a date then be sure to dress your Sunday best."

[youknowwhothisis]

Lucifer snickered. "Sunday best... I haven't heard terms like that in a long, long time."

Then gestured down himself. "This fit doesn't cut it, huh? Should I dress for the time period?"

[sugaronthecream]

"She'll adore you and spoil you rotten if you do. Surely 1910 wasn't so long ago for you, you undoubtedly have something in your wardrobe," Alastor chuckled, finally leading them out of the hotel room they'd been loitering in.

"I'll even do you a favor and not bring up the curtains to her, lest she sweet-talks you into taking endless bolts of skull motif fabric for curtains instead," he added airily - truly, how magnaaaanimous he was being!

[youknowwhothisis]

"1910? Why, that was practically last week. I'll think of something. If not, eh, I've got tailors." He shrugged.

"Oh, you're too kind. We want people to feel good coming here, not like they want to drop dead. But I'm sure little Miss Niffty might like that motif."

[sugaronthecream]

"I could genuinely never say whether or not she would enjoy it or if she would prefer the thrill of hunting and mounting skulls she cut from the rats herself! Hahah!"

Still, he says that with the utmost fondness in his tone.

"Her unofficial ban from Cannibal Town hasn't quite expired, hah."

[youknowwhothisis]

"A ban?" He whistled. "What in Hell did she-"

He'd seen what she'd done to Adam when she had the chance.

"Actually, nope, keep that from me! I never mind a little bit of mystery."

[sugaronthecream]

"PreCISEly! You need a little mystery to liven things up! Why do you suppose I keep our dear Niffty around in the first place, after all! Hahahah!"

He opened the doors of several rooms, lifting the arm still draped in curtains, and with a smooth flick of his free hand, he "threw" the curtains at the windows in each room - like a magic trick, it changed each set of curtains without ever properly disappearing from his grasp.

"And add to that, she is utterly fearless, it has been truly fascinating to see what sort of madness she inflicts on others. Ahh, still, it's so nice to see Charlie so understanding of her, they're thick as thieves by now."

[youknowwhothisis]

It was an impressive trick. After some scrutiny, he paused at each door to take a look, even framed fingers to get the angle. This one needed a softer color, perhaps a little more delicate, edging on feminine. He'll even add a boudoir. The next? Why not a handsome chestnut chest at the foot of the bed, polished to a fine sheen?

"You know, I did wonder for the longest time about your choice in Niffty. She is that bit of chaos everybody needs, isn't she...? Because just about anyone can come in through those doors... gotta be ready for anything, right?"

Oh, sheesh- he hurried into a room and tucked in bedsheets that were bothering him. That's the ticket.

"I admit, there is considerable charm in that little wolverine!"

[sugaronthecream]

See, that's the spirit, much more tasteful - you have it in you after all! Alastor doesn't gripe but also doesn't comment, simply swapping out the fabric to a different style and color to bring a little more flair to each room. This one here? Like a cozy little grandma room, someone will appreciate it. This one can be given stained glass and oak floors for a slight smoking room vibe.

"Woe be to any 'bad boy' that is sufficiently 'bad boy' enough to actually hold her attention! Hah! She'll run that man ragged."

[youknowwhothisis]

"Has there ever been one?? I don't know how long she's been down here, but..."

He brushed off his coat, paused, and patted it instead. That led it to vanish along with his hat. This was gonna get him overheated at this rate, moving around on foot so heavily dressed.

"Wait, what does she consider a 'bad boy' anyway? It's Hell!"

[sugaronthecream]

"I haven't the foggiest!! Isn't that fascinating?" Alastor paused to just laugh over it all. Niffty was just above and beyond his favorite little hellion.

There may be a chortle or two at the fact that Lucifer has to march so much to keep up with his stride.

"She came to Hell in the fifties!"

[youknowwhothisis]

Laugh it up, legs! He can keep up with you!! If being on foot wasn't going to cut it, he had six whole wings to work with. He just had to try for now, is all.

"Okay, so, greasers. That fits the bill, I guess. I wouldn't call them bad boys, I guess... not when they're too busy twirling and singing about possibly touching a tit if they behave!"

Lucifer, no, the 1950's wasn't like Grease. It was only mostly like Grease.

[sugaronthecream]

Alastor had his doubts that Grease was terribly accurate, particularly from how former friends who'd lived in that era described it... but what's the need to correct the misconception, right?

"If they'd gotten a bit more massive acts of destruction done I wager that'd put them on Niffty's radar. Or maybe her tastes have gotten as sharp as her teeth in the past decades," Alastor scoffed. Back down the stairs now that these rooms were done - there were so, so many more floors but unfortunately he didn't get to cheat with his powers and he didn't want to drain himself entirely.

[youknowwhothisis]

Lucifer rolled up his sleeves and hopped down the steps, almost a dance of its own.

"So keen on the tastes of your favorite little hellion...! I wonder if that's a bonding thing, or if you're one of those sorts who can suss out a person's tastes...?"